Arkansas legislators to compete on basketball court

LITTLE ROCK — Members of the Arkansas House and Senate will square off next month in their fifth annual basketball game for charity.

The Hoops for Kids’ Sake event, set for Feb. 21 at the Jack Stephens Center on the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Campus, will be a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls clubs of Bryant and Saline County. The game has raised more than $110,000 for the clubs since its inception in 2013.

“The opportunity to support these kids is something that always gets the Senate players excited to play hard,” Senate President Pro Tem Jonathan Dismang, R-Searcy, said in a news release. “And as defending champs for the first time ever, we have an additional incentive as we fight to keep the trophy on the south side of the Capitol for another year.”

House Speaker Jeremy Gillam, R-Judsonia, said in the release, “As the previous three-time champions of Hoops for Kids’ Sake, we are looking forward to bringing back the trophy to the House. But as much as we enjoy beating the Senate, we know the biggest victory is raising money for these organizations that do so much for our youth.”

General admission tickets will be $10 and will be available at the door. Doors will open at 6 p.m. and the game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.